Contains Latin coursework, science notes, essays, and examinations from Talmage's time as a student at Brigham Young Academy, Lehigh University, and Johns Hopkins University. Also contains some literature from various schools Talmage did not attend. Dated approximately 1876 to 1893.

Contains an inventory of items owned by the Deseret Museum. The inventory was taken by J. Reuben Clark under the direction of museum curator, James E. Talmage between 1891 and 1903.